Kashmiri Pandits protest in Jammu over delay in relief payment

Kashmiri Pandits protest in Jammu over delay in relief payment

SRINAGAR, SEP 18 (PTK): Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits protested here on Saturday against the delay in monthly relief payments and their attempt to block the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was foiled by the police, officials said.

Officials said the protesters came out of the Jagti migrant camp on the outskirts of the city and started marching towards the nearby highway raising slogans in support of their demand for immediate release of relief payments for the month of August.

He said the police prevented the protesters from moving towards the highway and persuaded them to disperse.

The protesters threatened to intensify their agitation if their monthly relief was not released immediately.

A spokesperson of the Kashmiri Pandit Relief Holders Association said, “The relief for the month of August has not been released by the Relief Commission till date, which is causing trouble to the displaced community.”

He said that for the first time in the last three decades, there has been a delay in releasing monthly relief to the community.

“We appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the issue and release the payment at the earliest,” the spokesperson said. (PTK)